L.A. Law (TV Series)

Smoke Gets in Your Thighs (1990)

Jill Eikenberry: Ann Kelsey

Quotes 

• Ann Kelsey : Mr. Campbell, how did you meet Thomas Young?

  James Campbell : On a blind date through a men-seeking-men collum in the LA Times. We both expected the worst. But to our surprise, the date went well and we ended up falling in love.

  Ann Kelsey : Did you make a commitment to each other?

  James Campbell : Yes. We tried to formalize that but the state of California would not give us a marriage license. We got married in a church in Hawaii on May 1, 1981, over two months after we first met.

  Ann Kelsey : And you two have been living together ever since?

  James Campbell : Yes. We bought a house outside San Francisco and we were very happy... until three years ago.

  Ann Kelsey : What happened then?

  James Campbell : We found out that Thomas had ALS. Lou Gehrig's disease. The doctors told us he was going to die within three to five years. Over the next two years, he became completely paralyzed.

  Ann Kelsey : Did you take care of him?

  James Campbell : Yes.

  Ann Kelsey : Would you tell the court what that entailed?

  James Campbell : Mainly being with him at all times. Feeding him, bathing him. I'd of course empty his bed pan. Read to him. Stay up with him if he had a bad night. Make sure his friends came and saw him.

  Ann Kelsey : How long have you been doing this?

  James Campbell : For two-in-a-half years and I wanted to keep on doing it.

  Ann Kelsey : What stopped you?

  James Campbell : Four months ago while I was at work, Thomas parents whom I never met showed up out of the blue and they came to our house and took him away back to their home here in L.A.

  Ann Kelsey : What happened after Thomas Young was taken back here to Los Angeles by his parents?

  James Campbell : For several weeks, I tried to contact them. They refused to take my phone calls or speak to me. And they wouldn't answer my letters. Finally, their attorney over there, Ms. Carlton, contacted me and told me in a rude tone that I would never see Thomas again and if I tried, they would get a restraining order against me.

  Ann Kelsey : Mr. Campbell, would you please tell this court why you are asking for conservertership of Thomas Young?

  James Campbell : I love him. I've known him for nine years. He's my husband... at least on paper. I promised him that I would take care of him. I intend to keep that promise.